Carers hit out against Western Isles Council service cuts

A group of worried island carers have hit out at an onslaught of council cuts. They say that slashed funding will undermine vital services and affect the most vulnerable.

The Western Isles Council is set to freeze council tax on Thursday in line with government policy and says it needs £14.5million of savings over the next three years.

It proposes to launch a frozen meals service for housebound pensioners.

The elderly face a 16% rise in paying for a home help while their free transport to day-care centres will be axed. Fares will cost up to £5 weekly.

This is in top of a 23% rise in getting meals in the centre. Care-home fees would also increase by 2%.

In addition two community support workers for the elderly may lose their jobs.

Jinty Morrison, chairwoman of the Western Isles Carers Users and Supporters Network said: “This is an attack on the elderly, disabled and children.

“The advocacy service is new and now they may have to relocate.

“We hope the frozen community meals are not a replica of the unsuccessful frozen meals pilot.

“These meals were so bad it was rejected by some old folk.

“Increasing home-help charges by £2 is a huge hike.

“Just a couple of hours of home care wipes out the pension increase in one go.

“It leaves the small pension rise for nothing else.

“This actually works out at a huge 76% rise from £8.50 three years ago.”

She is worried over the cuts for respite help for unpaid family carers. The council plans to axe respite beds in their care homes as well as at a private operator.

Ms Morrison says this is “penny wise, pound foolish” as an army of relatives care for the elderly at home saving the council a fortune.

She said: “If unpaid family carers drop out because they don’t get a break then the council faces an even bigger bill paying for full-time care.

“I urge the council to implement a facility on the islands before they stop help for seriously disabled people going on holiday to the mainland.

“They would save very little but it is a valuable form of respite care.

Ms Morrison said: “The most stringent cuts hits the elderly while the council is spending a lot of money on culture.

“They are putting £180,000 into cultural archiving but can we really afford this – this should be shelved until economic recovery makes it feasible and redirect funding for essential services to the elderly, disabled and vulnerable people.

“Ironically, they are simultaneously denying cultural lessons like art and music for kids in rural schools.”

A council spokesman said: “The council will set its budget on Thursday.

“These are proposals put forward for councillors to decide if they agree.”